The overall crime figure dropped 4.9% to 64,469 in the first 10 months of the year, while the number of violent crimes dropped 0.2% to 11,382, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says.

Speaking after a Fight Crime Committee meeting today, Mr Lee said the types of crimes that have recorded a fall include robbery (down 26.5%), burglary (down 22.8%), theft (down 6.5%) and serious drug offences (down 20.1%).

There were increases in crimes such as criminal intimidation (up 13.4%), serious assault (up 6.8%) and some indecent assault cases (11.6%). The number of juvenile and young offenders has dropped more than 10%. The number of visitors committing crime in Hong Kong also recorded a slight decrease.

"So, overall the law and order situation in Hong Kong is rather stable. Hong Kong remains a very safe city," Mr Lee said.

The Police have made every preparation to provide a secure environment for the WTO's Sixth Ministerial Conference, or MC6, to be held in Hong Kong next month, he said.

"We have every confidence the meeting will be held in Hong Kong successfully."

Hong Kong welcomes demonstrators - not violence

Mr Lee stressed that Hong Kong is a liberal and free community that respects the basic rights and freedoms of citizens as well as visitors.

"During the WTO meeting, we hope that these demonstrators, whether local or overseas, will respect the local laws and regulations and also respect the very good tradition of our demonstrators," he said.

"I must reiterate that we welcome demonstrators demonstrating in Hong Kong in a peaceful and orderly manner. But Hong Kong people as well as the Hong Kong Government will not tolerate any violent act damaging our properties and wounding any citizen or any person in Hong Kong."